Glucocorticoid Receptor Density and Binding Affinity in Healthy Horses and Horses with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Background

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis occurs in horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Peripheral resistance to glucocorticoids has not been investigated in horses.

Objective

To determine if glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function in horses can be measured using flow cytometry, and to use this information to evaluate HPA axis dynamics.

Animals

Eleven healthy adult horses in parts 1 and 2. Ten horses with SIRS and 10 age and sex matched controls in part 3.

Methods

Flow cytometry was used to evaluate GR density and binding affinity (BA) in 3 healthy horses in part 1. In part 2, exogenous ACTH was administered to eight healthy horses. Their cortisol response and GR properties were measured. In part 3, CBC, serum biochemistry, cortisol and ACTH, and GR properties were compared between controls without SIRS (n = 10) and horses with SIRS (n = 10), and between survivors and nonsurvivors (n = 4 and n = 6 respectively).

Results

Flow cytometry can be used to measure GR properties in equine PBMCs. No correlation was observed between plasma cortisol concentration and GR density or BA in healthy horses (r = −0.145, P = .428 and r = 0.046, P = .802 respectively). Nonsurvivors with SIRS had significantly decreased GR BA (P = .008). Horses with triglyceride concentration > 28.5 mg/dL had increased odds of nonsurvival (OR=117; 95% CI, 1.94–7,060). GR BA <35.79% was associated with nonsurvival (OR = 30.33; 95% CI, 0.96–960.5).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Tissue resistance to glucocorticoids contributes to HPA axis dysfunction in adult horses with SIRS. These horses might benefit from treatment with exogenous glucocorticoids.     

Clinicopathologic features and outcome predictors of Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup infection in dogs: a retrospective study of 20 cases (2001-2004)

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathologic findings and outcome predictors in dogs with Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup infections. ANIMALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 159 dogs that had a leptospiral microscopic agglutination test (MAT) performed between 2001 and 2004 were reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty dogs met serologic criteria for either symptomatic (16 dogs) or asymptomatic (4 dogs) infection caused by Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup. Seven of 16 symptomatic dogs died or were euthanized and 9/16 recovered. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was observed in 9/16 dogs. The presence of SIRS did not affect prognosis (P = .357). C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (Hpt) concentrations were altered in all symptomatic dogs, but results did not differ significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors (P = .08 and P = .055, respectively). Conversely, the CRP to Hpt ratio (CRP/Hpt) was significantly increased in nonsurvivors. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed in 7/16 dogs. DIC did not significantly affect outcome (P = .126). Multiple organ involvement was present with renal failure in 16/16, liver damage in 12/16, cardiac damage in 11/16, and muscular damage in 8/16 dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Among the evaluated clinicopathologic biomarkers, serum albumin, cardiac troponin I, CRP/Hpt, urinary albumin, and urinary total protein to creatinine ratio were found to predict outcome and warrant evaluation in larger prospective studies.     

Effect of experimental endotoxemia on thrombelastography parameters, secondary and tertiary hemostasis in dogs

Background: Thrombelastography (TEG) and indicators of secondary and tertiary hemostasis might be altered in dogs with endotoxemia. Hypothesis: Endotoxemia influences measures of coagulation in dogs. Animals: Ten healthy cross‐bred dogs. Material and Methods: Prospective laboratory study between controls (n = 5) receiving 0.9% saline IV and the study group (n = 5) treated with low‐dose lipopolysaccharide (0.02 mg/kg IV). Physical examination and sampling for measurement of leukocytes, platelets, and coagulation variables were performed at time points 0, 1, 4, and 24 hours. Coagulation variables included kaolin‐activated TEG, 1‐stage prothrombin time (OSPT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, factor VIII, antithrombin, protein C, protein S, activated protein C (APC)‐ratio calculated from aPTT with and without presence of APC), and D‐Dimers. Results: Endotoxemia‐induced clinical signs included lethargy (n = 5/5), diarrhea (n = 4/5), emesis (n = 4/5), and abdominal pain (2/5). After 1 hour there was severe leukopenia (2.5 ± 0.7 × 10⁹/L; mean ± SD, P < .0001) and a 2.2‐fold increase in D‐Dimers (0.81 ± 0.64 mg/L, P < .0001). After 4 hours there was hyperthermia (40.3 ± 0.4°C, P < .0001) and increases in OSPT (10.5 ± 2.7 seconds, P < .0001), aPTT (16.7±5.2 seconds, P= 0.002). A significant decrease in fibrinogen (1.5±1.0 g/L, P= 0.001), protein C (31 ± 33%, P <.0001), protein S (63 ± 47%, P < .0001), TEG α (58 ± 19, P= .007), and TEG maximal amplitude (50 ± 19 mm, P= .003) was seen compared with the controls. APC‐ratio rose significantly (2.5 ± 0.2, P < .0001) without exceeding the reference interval (n = 4/5). Conclusion and Clinical Importance: D‐Dimers are the earliest indicator for endotoxemia‐associated coagulation abnormalities followed by decreased protein C concentration. APC‐ratio and TEG were not good screening variables.     

上海PMWS并发PRRS自然病例的病理组织学观察

对上海5例5～13周龄断奶仔猪多器官衰竭综合征（PMWS）并发猪繁殖与呼吸综合征（PRRS）自然病例进行了病理组织学观察。结果：5例病猪均出现坏死性淋巴结炎、间质性肺炎以及不同程度的坏死性脾炎、间质性肾炎和肝炎。2例病猪出现心肌炎，表现为心肌纤维断裂、溶解和心肌间质中淋巴细胞局灶性浸润。2例病猪出现脑炎，在大脑白质区出现神经胶质细胞结节。     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒感染猪肺脏组织环腺苷酸磷酸二酯酶的活性及其mRNA表达变化

试验旨在探究在猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV)感染过程中环腺苷酸(cAMP)特异性磷酸二酯酶(PDE)的活性及其mRNA表达量的变化,以期为PDE抑制剂的应用提供相关依据。试验采集PRRSV感染猪肺脏组织,运用高效液相色谱(HPLC)法检测cAMP在PDE反应前后的变化,计算cAMP-PDE活性;通过Real-time PCR检测cAMP-PDE mRNA表达量的变化。结果显示,PRRSV感染猪肺脏组织中cAMP-PDE活性显著高于对照组(P<0.05),在检测的8个PDE亚型中,除PDE4A外,PDE4B、PDE4C、PDE4D、PDE7A、PDE7B、PDE8A、PDE8B mRNA的表达量均高于对照组。结果表明,cAMP-PDE在PRRSV感染引起的猪肺脏部的炎症反应过程中存在异常变化,提示cAMP-PDE特异性抑制剂有望减轻PRRSV感染引起的猪肺脏部炎症损伤。     

Changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations in piglets co-infected experimentally with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are pathogens, which can significantly affect the swine industry worldwide. Field surveys suggest that simultaneous PRRSV and PCV2 infection is common in pigs. The objective of this study was to measure the changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations in piglets co-infected experimentally with PRRSV and PCV2, in order to analyze the synergistic influence of co-infection on the immune system. Changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations were systematically measured by flow cytometry (FCM). The levels of antibodies to PRRSV and PCV2 were detected by indirect Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA), respectively. Serum viral loads were measured using real-time PCR. The results showed that piglets co-infected with PRRSV and PCV2 exhibited slower generation and lower levels of antibodies to PRRSV and PCV2, and increased amounts and a prolonged presence of both PRRSV and PCV2 in serum, in comparison to the piglets infected with either virus alone. The major finding in our study was that the total and differential leukocyte counts, including white blood cells (WBCs), monocytes, granulocytes and lymphocytes (T, B and NK cells, as well as T-cell subpopulations), dramatically decreased early during co-infection with PRRSV and PCV2 for about two weeks, in contrast with animals singly infected with either PRRSV or PCV2. These results suggest that PRRSV and PCV2 co-infection results in a synergistic decrease in immune cells in the peripheral blood of piglets. These data contribute to the understanding of the immunosuppressive effects resulting from PRRSV and PCV2 co-infection in pigs.     

Analysis of the Immune Efficacy of Attenuated Live Vaccine in the Pig Herds Previously Infected with Wild-type Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

To evaluate the immune efficacy of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) attenuated live vaccine,this study selected 4 litters from two small pig farms (two litters each farm) and vaccinated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) attenuated live vaccine.Sera were collected on different days post vaccination (dpv) to detect PRRSV nucleic acid by RT-PCR,and PRRSV antibody using two different ELISA Kits,i.e.N-ELISA and G-ELISA.The results showed that PRRSV nucleic acid were positive on 0 dpv until 30 dpv in piglets and also positive on 0 dpv in the corresponding sows.All piglets were negative for PRRSV antibody on 0 dpv,but were positive on 30 dpv until 150 dpv.The positive rates detected by N-ELISA Kit were higher than those of G-ELISA Kit on 30 and 60 dpv,but lower than those of G-ELISA Kit on 120 and 150 dpv.A total of 216 sera were detected respectively by two ELISA Kits and the coincidence rate of the results was 95.83%.The P value of χ² test was more than 0.05,showing there was no significant difference between the results of two Kits.The Kappa value was 0.87,showing there was strong consistence between them.The correlation coefficient was 0.605,showing there was significantly linear correlation between them.The results indicated that the wild-type PRRSV in the previously infected pig herds could be eliminated by vaccination with attenuated live vaccine and both N-ELISA and G-ELISA Kits could be used to estimate the immune efficacy of the attenuated live vaccine effectively.     

PRRSV野毒感染猪群免疫接种弱毒活疫苗的效果分析

为评估猪繁殖与呼吸综合征（porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome,PRRS）弱毒活疫苗的免疫效果,本研究在两个小型猪场各选取两窝仔猪,在免疫接种猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV）弱毒活疫苗后不同时间采集血清,应用RT-PCR检测PRRSV核酸,应用N-ELISA和G-ELISA两种试剂盒检测PRRSV抗体。结果发现,免疫前0 d可以从仔猪血清中检测到PRRSV野毒株核酸,可持续到免疫后30 d;相对应的母猪在免疫前0 d可从血清中检测到PRRSV野毒株核酸。试验仔猪在免疫前0 d未能检测到PRRSV抗体,但在免疫后30～150 d均可检测到PRRSV抗体,其中N-ELISA试剂盒的阳性检出率在免疫后30、60 d高于G-ELISA试剂盒的阳性检出率,而在免疫后120、150 d则低于G-ELISA试剂盒的阳性检出率。使用两种ELISA试剂盒共同检测216份血清样品,检测结果的总体符合率为95.83%;配对χ²检验,P>0.05,两者差异不显著;Kappa值为0.87,属于极强一致性;两者相关系数r为0.605,具有显著线性相关。表明免疫接种弱毒活疫苗可以有效清除野毒感染猪群中的野毒株,N-ELISA和G-ELISA两种ELISA试剂盒均可用于评估弱毒活疫苗的免疫效果。     

病毒样颗粒内标在荧光定量RT-PCR检测高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒方法中的应用

为建立对高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（H-PRRSV）快速准确的检测方法,本试验构建兽医临床用病毒样颗粒内标表达载体,制备检测H-PRRSV的病毒样颗粒内标。在H-PRRSV Nsp2基因保守区域设计了1对特异性引物和1个TaqMan荧光探针,通过对反应体系和扩增条件的优化,建立了检测H-PRRSV的荧光定量RT-PCR检测方法;将MS2噬菌体的成熟酶蛋白和衣壳蛋白基因序列定向插入pET-32a载体的相应位置,在载体下游插入人工合成包含引物和探针的内标基因序列,采用双酶切和PCR鉴定阳性质粒,将阳性质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21工程菌,IPTG诱导表达,制备了病毒样颗粒内标。试验结果表明,所建立的方法特异性强,灵敏度高,对8份已知病毒的检测结果显示特异性为100%,检测滴度为1 TCID₅₀/mL病毒液,对42份临床样本的检测结果与农业部备案试剂盒检测结果完全一致,体现了较好的实用性。